ROY KEANE has accused Sir Alex Ferguson of still trying to exert “control and power” at Manchester United – and says that his “massive ego” is undermining David Moyes.

HAPPIER TIMES: Keane with the United manager. Ferguson can't resist keeping an eye on team matters [GETTY]

Ferguson retired after last season and Moyes, the man he chose to replace him, is struggling. Moyes faces another test tonight when United take on Shakhtar Donetsk at home in the Champions League.

Ferguson is now a United director and Keane said: “Everything is about control and power. He’s still striving for it now even though he’s not the manager. There’s massive ego

involved in that.” Keane, who left United in 2005 after a fall-out with Ferguson, said his relationship with his former manager was “non-existent” and that Ferguson’s strongest trait was his “ruthlessness”, while labelling “loyalty” his biggest weakness.

And Keane twisted the knife further by claiming Brian Clough was the best manager he worked under. His comments follows revelations by Ferguson in his autobiography of the row that forced Keane out of United.

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I did shed a few tears in my car for about two minutes. I could have easily played for United for another couple of years

Roy Keane

Keane admitted he “cried” when he left abruptly over a candid interview he gave to the club’s in-house television station criticising his team-mates. “Of course I was upset,” Keane said. “I did shed a few tears in my car for about two minutes. I could have easily played for United for another couple of years.”

Keane claimed that he felt the row between Ferguson and former shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus over the stud rights to racehorse Rock of Gibraltar had a “negative effect” on the club.

He said: “If people didn’t think (the Rock of Gibraltar row) had a negative effect on the club then they are in cuckoo land.”

Meanwhile another former United star, Ray Wilkins, has accused the current players of being scared to receive the ball in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle.

“For the first time on Saturday, I saw Manchester United players not wanting the ball, which is unheard of at Old Trafford.”